Shinnosuke Abe tested three bats weighing different amounts on Wednesday. He took 176 swings during batting practice (live and against a machine) and recorded eighty-five could-be hits. Source: Sponichi 1/29/2015

Takahiro Suzuki signed an advisory agreement with Adidas for baseball equipment. He was with Asics up until last year. Source: Sponichi 1/29/2015

There is a chance Hideki Matsui will visit spring camp some time during the third block (begins February 11). Source: Nikkan Sports 1/29/2015

Hanshin Tigers

Ryutaro Umeno took thirty-eight swings during outdoor batting practice on Thursday and hit two over the fence. Source: Sanspo 1/29/2015

Minoru Iwata threw twenty-four pitches, including forkballs and sliders, to a squatting catcher in the bullpen on Thursday. This was his second session of the year. Source: Sponichi 1/29/2015

Second round draft pick Tsuyoshi Ishizaki is avoiding alcohol and cigarettes. Ishizaki started smoking heavily when he was having problems with a herniated disc a year-and-a-half ago because he thought it kept him from gaining weight. Source: Sanspo 1/29/2015

Third round draft pick Taiga Egoshi swung the bat forty-three times during outdoor batting practice on Thursday and hit two over the fence. Both home runs were off left-handed pitching. Source: Nikkan Sports 1/29/2015

Mauro Gomez might not make it to Japan for the start of spring camp on February 1. Passports can be replaced fairly quickly, but work visas can take a little longer, some times as long as two to three weeks. Source: Nikkan Sports 1/29/2015

Jesus Guzman, Kris Johnson, and Mike Zagurski worked out at Mazda Stadium on Thursday for the first time since their arrival in Japan. Source: Daily Sports 1/29/2015 ... The Carp held a press conference for the three players on Wednesday. Guzman was assigned the number 13, Johnson the number 42, and Zagurski the number 58. Source: official announcement ... Johnson's paternal grandmother is Japanese. Source: Nikkan Sports 1/29/2015

Chunichi Dragons

Ryosuke Hirata swung the bat twenty-four times during batting practice on Wednesday. He focused on hitting the ball to right-center with the first fifteen swings. He will start the year at Ni-gun spring camp because he weighed in at ninety-eight kilograms, six over his ideal weight. Source: Daily Sports 1/29/2015

Fifteen pitchers are participating in Chatan mini-camp. Wednesday was the second day. As of Wednesday, first round draft pick Ryosuke Nomura was the only pitcher that had not yet tossed a bullpen session. Pitching coach Yui Tomori was not particularly pleased and said to the media, "Pitchers that do not want to throw can go to Yomitan [camp]." Source: Sports Hochi 1/29/2015 ... Nikkan Sports points out that Nomura last threw a session on the 23rd (twenty-six pitches) and was seen icing his left calf the last few days. Source: Nikkan Sports 1/29/2015 ... Nomura threw thirty-four pitches, all fastballs, to a squatting catcher on Thursday. Kazuki Yoshimi joined the team on the 28th and also tossed a bullpen session on Thursday (thirty-two pitches). Source: Sports Hochi 1/29/2015, Nikkan Sports 1/29/2015, Sponichi 1/29/2015

Yokohama Bay Stars

The Bay Stars held a press conference for Jose Lopez on Thursday. He was assigned the number 2. Source: official announcement

Yoslan Herrera will arrive at spring camp about three days late because he is still waiting to get his work visa. Source: Sponichi 1/29/2015

Lastings Milledge worked out at IMG Academy in Florida during the winter. Milledge has made adjustments to his hitting and dropped about three kilograms. Source: Daily Sports 1/29/2015

Training camp for the 2014 draft class ended on Wednesday. First round draft pick Shingo Takeshita and fourth round draft pick Tetsuya Terada were the only players that made it through without getting hurt or sick. Takeshita threw sixty pitches to a squatting catcher. Source: Sanspo 1/29/2015

Tsubakuro met with the Swallows for contract negotiations on Thursday. He agreed to a deal worth 9,000 yen (down 3,000 yen from last year) plus incentives and an all-you-can-drink supply of Yakult 400 and Toughman Dry. Source: Sponichi 1/29/2015

The cheaper ones are located in Nishinari-ku, but it will take you 2 train rides to get to Koshien. Hotel Chuo Oasis near Dobutsuen-mae station is a relatively new business hotel and is quite cheap. The staff are good in English as well.

The hotel booking sites (agoda, booking.com, etc) says there’s no availability on April 15, but try e-mailing the hotel to inquire. Worked for me before. Reservation thru their site doesn’t require credit card as well, so it’s a plus.